This is how his wife’s call helped AB De Villers make a successful IPL return

AB De Villers revealed that his wife’s words of confidence were the reasons behind his remarkable immediate return to the IPL platform after injury. The South African batter was suffering from a back pain and for which he was ruled out from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from the first two matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

On Monday, he played his first match of IPL 10 against Kings XI Punjab in Indore and it clearly seemed that he left behind the pain of his injury. Instead, gave a spectacular performance of half-century to help his team in the total.

AB De Villers forced Chris Gayle out of RCB’s inclusion that was lined up the match. He struck 89* out of 46 balls to help Bangalore Franchise to a total of 148.

However, very few of them expected to hit the ground in his very first IPL match, but his pleasant comeback surprised himself as well.

Speaking to the commentator Sanjay Manjrekar after getting the on-field microphone during Kings XI’s innings, AB De Villers revealed that a conservation with his wife lead him to overcome and self-doubt the fear of his injury.

I surprise myself. It’s a mental thing than anything else. That doesn’t clear mean that you become a bad player overnight, but the rustiness you refer to is more self-doubt, that was present over the last few days.

“I called up my wife just before the game telling her that I am doubting myself a bit. But, ultimately I left myself along with the audience surprised. Even I played a few good shots,” said De Villers.

“Actually, at that time; she was lying next to my boy, sleeping. When I asked for her advice and she said to call back within a few minutes. She said me to stay calm and that she was on her way, arriving tomorrow on the ground, so I think that was the inspiration,” he added.